- 6 days ago
Keyless Queen englishsub
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Short filmTranscript
00:06Leon finally noticed that I had gone three days without asking Lydia for a single key.
00:11He thought I had finally learned to be an obedient queen.
00:15So he sent a servant with a message that sounded more like a royal favor than an apology.
00:21His Majesty says, tonight he will have someone bring you the key to the royal apothetory.
00:26He will also send the royal physician to check on your father again.
00:30But I didn't react at all, listening to the royal servant's announcement.
00:35I just sat quietly at the table, without the joy he had expected.
00:40His Majesty reminds you to abide by this rule.
00:43Never again employ crude theatrical ploys to threaten the crown.
00:49The gold the late king awarded your father will remain under the royal household's care.
00:55People of your black race should not hold that much gold all at once.
00:59It only invites trouble.
01:00I stood in the grandest chamber of Whitestone Palace and listened quietly.
01:04What Leon did not know was that by the time I received that message.
01:08I had already filed a petition to dissolve our marriage in the Archbishop's court.
01:12My father had died three days ago in his blacksmith shop.
01:16After three years in the palace, the only things I could take with me were the old dress I had
01:21worn when I first entered the palace.
01:23And the little iron hammer my father had forged for me with his own hands.
01:27The servant waited for me to cry, shout, or beg for the king's mercy.
01:31I did none of those things.
01:33I only folded the message once, placed it on the table, and looked toward the locked wardrobe across the room.
01:39No one would believe that Aaliyah, the queen everyone envied, lived in the grandest chamber of Whitestone Palace yet could
01:46not even open her own wardrobe.
01:50My gowns were locked in the West Wing wardrobe.
01:53My jewelry was locked in the queen's jewel room.
01:56My carriage sat in the Eastgate carriage house.
01:58My father's reward money was sealed inside an iron coffer at the bottom of the royal treasury.
02:03Even when I wanted to call a royal physician for my father,
02:07I had to ask Lydia for the apothecary key and permission to leave the palace.
02:11And every one of those keys was in Lydia's hands.
02:14She was the king's chief court lady.
02:16And she had grown up with Leon.
02:19Before I appeared, everyone believed she would become the woman who ruled this palace.
02:23Later, on his deathbed, the old king insisted that Leon marry me.
02:28Because my father, Thomas, had saved the old king during a winter hunt.
02:33But Leon looked down on my low birth.
02:36He always believed that if a poor family suddenly received wealth,
02:39we would waste it the moment it reached our hands.
02:42The gold will stay in the royal treasury.
02:46It will be released whenever your father truly needs it.
02:50I believed him then.
02:53I thought being queen meant I had finally earned a place where my father would be safe.
02:58Instead, I found myself standing before locked doors,
03:01waiting for another woman to decide whether my needs were proper enough.
03:05Three days ago, my father was dying.
03:08I begged Leon to give me the key to my father's gold coffer.
03:12I also begged him to let me take medicine from the royal apothecary.
03:16Lydia kept holding back the treasury key and the apothecary key, again and again,
03:21until my father died in his bed.
03:23All these years, I endured everything so my father could keep receiving treatment from the royal.
03:29Physicians and medicine from the palace apothecary.
03:32Now my father was gone.
03:34There was no reason for me to stay.
03:37When I asked Leon to end our marriage, he refused.
03:40He was in his study, reading the border tax ledgers.
03:44His eyes never left the parchment.
03:46His voice was as cold as if he were scolding a maid who had broken a cup.
03:53Stop making trouble.
03:54He treated it like nothing more than a childish error,
03:57not realizing for a moment that I meant every word.
04:01I'm not making trouble.
04:03I've already submitted the petition to the archbishop's court.
04:06I stood before his desk and said calmly.
04:08Only then did Leon look up at me.
04:11His eyes were cold, as though my words were a waste of his time.
04:16About your father.
04:17I was the one who told Lydia not to give you the apothecary key.
04:21It had nothing to do with her.
04:23She was only following my orders.
04:27My fingers twitched at my sides.
04:29In the past, the moment he mentioned my father, I would lower my head.
04:36My father's old wounds flared up every winter.
04:39Village healers could not help him.
04:41He had to rely on the royal physicians and medicine from the palace apothecary to stay.
04:46Alive, that was the reward the late king had promised him.
04:51But after the old king died, Leon said my father did not know how to manage money.
04:56He said a blacksmith who suddenly possessed that much gold would only be cheated, robbed, and perhaps killed for it.
05:02So he locked my father's gold coffer inside the royal treasury.
05:07He said he would release it whenever my father truly needed it.
05:11But every need had to go through Lydia.
05:13His majesty's commands are absolute.
05:16I have no special privileges even when my own father's life was hanging in the balance.
05:22My father was burning with fever.
05:24His old wound rotting open.
05:26I knelt outside the apothecary door and begged Lydia to give me the key.
05:31She wore a pale blue court gown and held a ring of keys in her hand.
05:35Her smile was gentle.
05:37Almost regretful.
05:38Your majesty.
05:40The apothecary key cannot be handed over carrially.
05:44Vise de Thomas, a croup and traceparies.
05:48Master Thomas is only a commoner.
05:50He does not fall under royal emergency care.
05:54That treatment was promised to him by the late king.
05:57I'm not denying the late king's generosity.
06:00But rules are rules.
06:03Have the village healer write a note describing his condition first.
06:09Then have it sealed by a church physician.
06:13Only then can I open the apothecary.
06:17I brought back the note.
06:19She glanced at it and frowned lightly.
06:21I brought back the note.
06:23She glanced at it and frowned lightly.
06:26The date isn't clear enough.
06:28It only says fever.
06:30It doesn't specify whether his life is in danger.
06:33Your majesty.
06:34I'm not trying to make this hard for you.
06:37Every bottle in the royal apothecary must be recorded.
06:40You are clean.
06:42You cannot act like you are still in a blacksmith shop,
06:45taking whatever you want whenever you want it.
06:48After that, she made me bring a travel permit,
06:51a physician's certificate,
06:52a written reason for withdrawing from the gold car.
06:55A statement explaining why my father
06:57could not be treated by a village healer.
07:00I ran back and forth again and again.
07:03My father's breathing grew weaker each time.
07:05I returned.
07:06The village healer pressed the last certificate into my hand and
07:10whispered that there might still be time if I hurried.
07:15By the time I returned with the paper,
07:17my shoes were soaked through with mud,
07:20and Lydia only asked whether the church seal was placed in the correct corner.
07:29By the time the key finally arrived in the blacksmith shop,
07:33my father never opened his eyes again.
07:41So now, when Leon said he would have someone bring me the apothecary key tonight,
07:46I found it absurd.
07:47The apothecary no longer mattered.
07:49My father had no use for it anymore.
07:52Leon watched my silence and thought I had finally learned to be afraid.
07:55He closed the parchment in his hand.
07:58Impatient.
07:58Alia, if you hadn't stormed into the household office a few days ago and shouted at Lydia,
08:04I would never have let her hold back the keys to teach you a lesson.
08:07You are queen, not some little girl throwing a fit in a blacksmith shop.
08:14Last night, I already told her to give you the apothecary key.
08:18My time is precious.
08:19I don't have the patience to watch you lose your temper.
08:22With that, he stood and turned to leave.
08:24He was certain I would lower my head soon enough,
08:27just like I had for the past three years.
08:30Even when he said in front of the nobles
08:31that I looked desperate to please,
08:33I only smiled and said nothing.
08:36Even when Lydia smiled and took one key after another away from me,
08:40I endured it.
08:41I once thought that as long as my father was alive,
08:44I could endure anything.
08:46Now my father was gone and I did not need to stay anymore.
08:49But Leon did not know that he had never been willing to let me finish a sentence.
08:54Later, a maid brought me the celebration ledger Lydia had sent.
08:59His Majesty asks Your Majesty to write a line of praise,
09:03so no one missed a stand, Lady Lydia.
09:05I found that joke and laughed.
09:08The maid lowered her eyes,
09:10afraid I would tear the ledger apart.
09:13Instead, I took the quill with steady fingers.
09:17I picked up the quill and wrote carefully.
09:20Lady Lydia is diligent indeed.
09:24With one ring of keys,
09:26she rules over both the queen and the servants.
09:35Aladia.
09:38May she keep guarding every door,
09:40and may she keep guarding the place she hopes to move into one day.
09:46Your Majesty,
09:47should I really deliver this?
09:50The maid's face went pale.
09:53Deliver it exactly as written.
09:56His Majesty wanted praise.
09:58I gave him praise.
10:00After writing it,
10:01I closed the ledger.
10:03Then I returned to my chamber and began to pack.
10:05There was not much to pack.
10:07Everything that seemed to belong to me in the
10:09palace was locked in someone else's hands.
10:12The only things I could take were the old dress I wore when I entered the palace.
10:16A few faded shirts,
10:18and the little hammer my father had given me.
10:20For all these years,
10:22I had lived in the palace like a temporary guest.
10:25Only now did I understand.
10:26Even a guest could at least open a
10:29door for herself.
10:30I folded the old dress carefully and placed my father's hammer on top of it.
10:35The iron handle was cold,
10:37but the weight of it steadied me more than any crown ever had.
10:40Outside,
10:41the bells of White Stone Palace rang for Lydia's private dinner.
10:45Inside,
10:46I closed my trunk and finally felt something like peace.
10:50No longer a queen,
10:51no longer in need of anyone's keys.
10:53I am just me the me who can make any decision.
10:57Leon came back very quickly.
10:59Whenever it involved Lydia,
11:01he was always prompt.
11:03He strode into my chamber and did not even notice the small leather trunk at my feet.
11:08I said flatly.
11:09I heard.
11:11I didn't want to.
11:12Leon looked as if I had said something outrageous.
11:15I already told you.
11:17Lydia has managed the palace household well lately,
11:19so I held a dinner to reward her.
11:22There are already enough people in the palace misunderstanding her.
11:27After what you wrote in the ledger,
11:28how is she supposed to face anyone?
11:30I could not help laughing.
11:34So not everyone is blind.
11:38If people misunderstand her so easily,
11:41maybe they already know what she's been doing.
11:44Leon's face darkened.
11:47Aaliyah,
11:48when did you become so vulgar?
11:50You know exactly how hard it is for a young woman without a noble title to rise this far.
11:55Why would you smear another capable woman like this?
12:01Lydia only manages the palace for me.
12:05If you hadn't made a spade a scene in the household office,
12:07would people be talking about her now?
12:09He looked at me with exhaustion and blame in his eyes.
12:13If you want to be a queen who knows nothing except how to hold out her hand for keys,
12:17I won't blame you.
12:21I gave you a crown,
12:22a palace,
12:24and status.
12:25What more do you want?
12:27For three years,
12:28I had wanted him to ask that question sincerely.
12:30Now that you had finally asked it.
12:33But now,
12:34there's no point in my answering anymore.
12:38But if you keep targeting Lydia,
12:40don't blame me for being harsh.
12:42Think about your father.
12:46I finally laughed out loud.
12:50It hurt my throat.
12:51Then I opened my trunk right in front of him.
12:57A crown?
12:58A palace?
13:00Dignity?
13:02Leon,
13:03look at what my life in your palace has been.
13:08I'm leaving,
13:09and I can't even pack four decent dresses.
13:16If I wanted to change into a ball gown,
13:18I had to ask your lady of the court for a key.
13:23If I wanted to visit my father,
13:25I had to explain the reason to Lydia first.
13:28What queen has to live at the mercy of her husband's favorite court lady?
13:32There was not a trace of guilt on Leon's face.
13:35He only frowned and asked,
13:37genuinely baffled.
13:39All this over that?
13:43So you were jealous of Lydia and deliberately tried to ruin her name?
13:47My heart went cold.
13:49Inch by inch.
13:50If he truly thought this was wrong,
13:52he would not have let Lydia take my keys again and again for three years.
13:56He would not have allowed the entire palace to know the queen had no right to open her own doors.
14:01I lowered my eyes.
14:03Fine.
14:04Think whatever you want.
14:07I want our marriage dissolved.
14:09Leon laughed instead.
14:11There was a knowing look in that laugh,
14:13as if he had finally seen through my cheap little trick.
14:16Enough.
14:17I don't have time to coax you through another tantrum.
14:22You're doing all this because of Lydia, aren't you?
14:25Don't assume every woman is like you.
14:28Always fighting over a man.
14:31As he spoke,
14:32he smoothed the wrinkle from his sleeve as though making a great concession.
14:36Tomorrow,
14:37I will send the royal physician to see your father in person.
14:43In a moment,
14:44I'll have Lydia give you the keys to the queen's wardrobe,
14:48the jewel room,
14:49and the carriage house.
14:51From now on,
14:52your daily expenses won't need to go through the household accounts.
14:57After three years as Leon's wife,
14:59I understood him well enough.
15:00For him,
15:01this was already the greatest compromise he could offer.
15:04Under normal circumstances,
15:07I should have known when to stop.
15:08But I was tired of this marriage of three people.
15:11Just like now,
15:13he had made so many promises,
15:15yet he never mentioned Lydia holding back the apothecary key.
15:19I don't want anything except to end this marriage.
15:23Leon finally realized I was not acting coy.
15:26His impatience instantly turned into anger.
15:57Aaliyah,
15:58How long do you think you can last?
16:00Not long at all.
16:01I knew that better than anyone,
16:03now everything was only returning to where it should have been.
16:06I fastened my trunk again and said lightly,
16:09Do whatever you want.
16:13Leon froze.
16:14He seemed unable to understand why a threat that had always worked on Aaliyah suddenly had no effect,
16:20but his pride would not let him lower his head again.
16:24So he watched her drag her trunk toward the door with a cold face.
16:28When Aaliyah pulled open the chamber doors,
16:30he seemed as if he wanted to call her back.
16:33In the end,
16:33he said nothing.
16:35Only later did Aaliyah learn that Lydia went to his study that night.
16:39Your Majesty doesn't need to humor her.
16:42Leave her alone for a few days.
16:44She'll come back and apologize.
16:46Her Majesty has simply grown too comfortable as Queen
16:50and wants to make a scene.
16:52Leon believed her.
16:54He even found a honey mint in his study and thought of Aaliyah,
16:57whose throat always hurt Mointer.
16:59So Aaliyah had once learned to make those candies for him.
17:03Leon turned the candy between his fingers for a long while.
17:08She is not completely useless after all.
17:11Lydia lowered her eyes to hide the shadow of jealousy in them.
17:14Even now,
17:15even while he was angry,
17:17one small candy was enough to make Leon think of Aaliyah first.
17:21He told himself that Aaliyah was not completely useless after all
17:24when she came back.
17:26He would make her apologize sincerely,
17:28and she would never again threaten him with a petition to dissolve their marriage.
17:34After leaving the palace,
17:36I did not leave the kingdom.
17:37I first went to the Archbishop's court to confirm that my petition had been filed.
17:42Then,
17:43carrying my father's ashes,
17:45I went to the armory camp on the northern border.
17:48That was where my father had worked when he was young.
17:51He used to say that in the north.
17:53People did not ask where you came from.
17:55They only asked whether you were good with your hands.
17:58I did not understand that before.
18:00Now I did.
18:01When I arrived at the armory camp,
18:03dragging my trunk behind me,
18:05the soldier at the gate looked at me with obvious suspicion.
18:11Who are you looking for?
18:14Madam Martha.
18:16Madam Martha was the old blacksmith of the armory camp,
18:19and she had once trained with my father.
18:21Before I married into the palace,
18:23she had come to persuade me not to go.
18:26A place like the palace
18:27isn't meant for people like us,
18:30people who live by our hands.
18:32I did not listen then.
18:33Now when I saw her again,
18:35her hair had turned white.
18:37She looked at the trunk in my hand
18:39and the urn in my arms.
18:40She did not ask a single question.
18:44Come in.
18:45She simply stepped aside.
18:50My nose stung,
18:52and tears fell before I could stop them.
18:54For the first time since my father's death,
18:57no one asked me for a permit,
18:59a seal,
19:00or a reason.
19:01One door opened because someone chose to open it for me.
19:06After I had cried enough,
19:08Madam Martha said slowly.
19:13Done crying?
19:15Then wash your hands.
19:19I'm short a lock repairer
19:21and someone who can mend armor.
19:23If you still remember what your father taught you,
19:25stay.
19:26I stared at her.
19:28You're not going to ask why I'm here?
19:31Madam Martha snorted.
19:33Anyone who can walk out of the palace alive
19:36is lucky enough.
19:38What is there to ask?
19:40Or did three years as queen
19:42make you too delicate to hold a hammer?
19:45I smiled through my tears.
19:49I can hold one.
19:51For myself,
19:52I can hold anything.
19:54At first,
19:55I was not used to it.
19:57The wind in the north was hard.
19:59The furnace was scorching.
20:01And the armory camp was nothing like the palace.
20:04No maids came to make my bed.
20:06Blisters soon formed across my palms.
20:08A young apprentice saw the blood on my fingers
20:11and held out a strip of cloth.
20:15Miss Alalia,
20:16maybe you should rest.
20:18I wrapped my palm
20:19and picked up the hammer again.
20:24If I stop every time I bleed,
20:26I will never make anything strong.
20:29But as time passed,
20:30the skills carved into my bones
20:32slowly returned.
20:34How to hear the quality of.
20:35Metal,
20:36how to tell where a lock's inner teeth were stuck.
20:39How to shape a horseshoe with the right curve.
20:41How to mend a broken sword.
20:51The more I worked,
20:52the steadier my hands became.
20:54Once.
20:55I repaired a cracked bracer for a night.
20:58He tested it twice
20:59and raised his thumb in surprise.
21:02I smiled.
21:04I thought someone from the palace
21:06would only know how to wear rings.
21:12I couldn't afford rings before.
21:16The soldiers around us froze for a second,
21:19then burst into laughter.
21:21That was the first time I laughed easily
21:23after leaving the palace.
21:25Then an unwelcome voice sounded behind me.
21:28Aladia?
21:29I looked up and saw Lydia.
21:30She wore a white fox fur cloak
21:32and stood not far away,
21:33several servants behind her.
21:35Her gaze swept over my hands,
21:37stained with coal and iron dust.
21:40Then over the soldiers beside me,
21:42the corner of her mouth lifted.
21:46So this is why Her Majesty
21:48suddenly made such a fuss
21:50about ending the marriage.
21:51You came back to a place like this.
21:54Some people can wear a crown
21:56and still never forget
21:58they came from a blacksmith's shop.
22:00I would rest in your face.
22:03My face went cold.
22:05The people of the Northern Armory
22:07mended on her,
22:08forged swords,
22:09and repaired gates and wind and snow
22:11to protect the border.
22:13They did not deserve her contempt.
22:18I set down the tongs in my hand.
22:22Lydia,
22:23do you not have a room of your own?
22:26Why are you behind every door I open?
22:28Lydia's expression changed.
22:30At that moment,
22:31a familiar voice came from behind her.
22:34What happened?
22:37Leon walked over.
22:39He wore black hunting clothes
22:40with the royal cloak over his shoulders.
22:42So,
22:43he had come to inspect the northern border.
22:46And of course Lydia had come with him.
22:48Her eyes reddened as she lowered her voice.
22:51Nothing,
22:51Your Majesty.
22:55I only saw Her Majesty away from the palace for so long,
23:00surrounded by soldiers and smith,
23:01and worried she might be taken advantage of.
23:05I tried to advise her,
23:07but she misunderstood me.
23:11Only then did Leon notice me.
23:13His brows drew together slightly.
23:15There was that familiar certainty in his eyes.
23:23I looked at him once,
23:29then turned away without wasting a word
23:31and picked up my tools.
23:33The young apprentice beside me whispered,
23:37Miss Aaliyah,
23:38who is that?
23:39I said coldly,
23:41my blind, brainless husband.
23:43Leon's face darkened.
23:45Aaliyah!
23:48You've followed me all the way to the north.
23:51How long do you plan to keep this up?
23:54You've been away from the palace for so long,
23:57ignoring your father completely.
24:04Are you really trying to force me
24:06to never give him the apothetory key again?
24:09I looked at him,
24:11tired of him to the bone.
24:14Then don't give it.
24:17That's what you're best at, isn't it?
24:21Something in my eyes must have cut Leon.
24:24He turned sharply to the servant beside him.
24:27Send orders back to the capital.
24:30From today on,
24:31Thomas is not to be given the apothetory key again.
24:35And the gold coffret is not to be opened.
24:39Panic flashed across Lydia's face.
24:41Your Majesty,
24:43perhaps we shouldn't.
24:45Leon coldly pressed down the hand
24:47she had placed on his arm.
24:48She needs to be taught a lesson.
24:51Otherwise,
24:52she will never learn how to be queen.
24:55The servant's face went deathly pale,
24:58but he did not answer.
24:59Leon frowned.
25:00What?
25:01The servant lowered his head.
25:03His voice tightened.
25:05Your Majesty,
25:07Master Thomas has passed away.
25:09Leon froze.
25:11What did you say?
25:12The servant forced the words out.
25:16Three days ago,
25:18Her Majesty
25:20requested that the apothetory be opened,
25:23but the key was never delivered.
25:25By the time the physician arrived,
25:28Master Thomas had already...
25:29He did not finish.
25:32Leon stood there
25:33as if he had suddenly forgotten
25:35how to understand language.
25:36A long time passed before he murmured.
25:39How is that possible?
25:45Why didn't anyone tell me?
25:49The servant looked even more troubled.
25:53Someone did report it to Your Majesty at the time.
25:55Leon stared at him.
25:58What did I say?
26:00The servant clenched his jaw.
26:03You said that while you and Lady Lydia
26:05were watching the Winter Lantern Parade,
26:08you did not want to hear anything related to the queen.
26:10In that instant,
26:11Leon's face went white.
26:13I watched him finally remember.
26:15That day,
26:16I had burst into the household office
26:18and begged Lydia
26:19to give me the apothecary key.
26:21He said I had shamed the crown.
26:23Later,
26:24to comfort Lydia
26:25after she had been frightened,
26:27he lit Winter Lanterns
26:28across the capital
26:29for an entire night.
26:31The nobles all said
26:32His Majesty truly favored
26:33his chief court lady.
26:35My father took his last breath
26:36that same night.
26:39Leon turned sharply toward Lydia.
26:41Tears welled in Lydia's eyes
26:43as if she had suffered
26:44a great injustice.
26:46Leon,
26:47I didn't mean to keep it from you.
26:50I only thought Master Thomas
26:52had already received
26:53so much grace from the late king.
26:55And Her Majesty
26:56always makes things
26:57sound worse than they are.
26:59I was afraid
26:59she would influence her.
27:02I froly.
27:03Give me your key ledger.
27:05For the first time,
27:06Leon cut her off.
27:08What?
27:10Lydia froze.
27:14The record from the apathetic key.
27:17The treasury key.
27:18And the carriage house key
27:20from the past few days.
27:22All of them.
27:24The blood drained
27:26from Lydia's face.
27:28Leon,
27:29these are household affairs.
27:31You've never investigated
27:32me like this before.
27:33What was left to explain.
27:35Everything I had said
27:36was true.
27:37I had not been jealous
27:38of Lydia.
27:39I had not used
27:40my father's illness
27:41to threaten him.
27:42I had truly wanted to leave.
27:44The way Leon looked at me
27:45finally began to change.
27:46But,
27:47I only felt tired.
27:49I looked away
27:49and lowered my head
27:50to sort my tools.
27:52Three whole years
27:53had been wrong.
27:54Leon took one step
27:55toward me.
27:56But the soldiers
27:56of the armory camp
27:58shifted almost
27:58at the same time.
28:00No one drew a weapon.
28:01They only stood there,
28:03silent and solid,
28:04between the king
28:05and the woman
28:05he had cornered
28:06for too long.
28:13Aaliyah.
28:14Don't.
28:15That single word
28:16stopped him more sharply
28:18than any royal command.
28:19Lydia's fingers
28:20closed around
28:21the edge of her cloak.
28:23Your Majesty,
28:24I can explain
28:26the ledgers.
28:27Her Majesty
28:29always demanded
28:29things outside procedure.
28:32I was protecting
28:33your reputation.
28:35Leon looked at her
28:36and for once
28:37he did not
28:37immediately believe her.
28:39Then you will
28:40explain them in writing.
28:41Every missing hour.
28:44Every delayed key.
28:47Every sealed door.
28:48I heard those words
28:50and felt nothing
28:50like triumph.
28:52There was no victory.
28:53In being believed
28:54after the person
28:55you loved most
28:56was already dead.
29:01Late that night,
29:02I came out of the armory camp
29:04to dump furnace ash
29:05and saw Leon
29:06standing not far away.
29:08The firelight was dim
29:09and snow rested
29:10on his shoulders.
29:11I had only seen him
29:13that afternoon
29:13yet he looked
29:14as if his soul
29:15had been drained
29:16out of him.
29:16When he saw me,
29:18he stepped toward me
29:18at once.
29:19Aaliyah!
29:20I frowned
29:20and stepped back.
29:22He stopped.
29:23His voice was hoarse.
29:25I've taken all the keys
29:26back from Lydia.
29:27She is no longer
29:28the chief court lady.
29:29About your father,
29:31I didn't know.
29:32Give me a chance
29:33to make it up to you,
29:33all right?
29:34My heart did not soften.
29:35I only found it absurd.
29:37Once,
29:37I had begged him
29:38to listen to one sentence
29:39and he found me annoying.
29:41Now he stood in the snow,
29:43finally willing
29:43to bow his head.
29:45But it was too late.
29:46I looked at him calmly.
29:48Leon,
29:49do you think Lydia
29:50is the only problem
29:51between us?
29:51He seemed caught off guard.
29:54I know I was wrong.
29:55He seemed caught off guard.
29:57I shouldn't have let her
29:58control your keys.
30:00I shouldn't have used
30:02that method
30:02to teach you rules.
30:04I just thought the palace
30:05had always been like this.
30:07Noblemen manage
30:08their common-born wives
30:09this way all the time.
30:12I never thought
30:13it would hurt you.
30:16And I never truly meant
30:17to abandon your father.
30:19I looked at him.
30:21Leon,
30:22even now,
30:23you still think
30:24that if you are willing
30:25to give,
30:26I should be grateful
30:27enough to take it.
30:29You made me queen
30:29then handed my wardrobe,
30:30the apothetory,
30:31and my father's
30:31life-saving money
30:32to Lydia.
30:32You saw my humiliation.
30:33You just believed
30:34someone of my birth
30:35had no right
30:35to feel humiliated.
30:36His face turned paler
30:37by the second.
30:38I went on.
30:40We are over.
30:42I don't want anything.
30:44When the Archbib's court
30:45asks for your response,
30:46don't stand in the way.
30:48That's all.
30:49Confusion filled.
30:50Leon's eyes.
30:51He seemed unable
30:52to understand
30:53why I refused
30:54to forgive him
30:54when he had already
30:55lowered himself this far.
30:57Carefully,
30:57he asked.
30:59What will it take
31:00for you to come back
31:01with me?
31:02I can give you the keys
31:03to the queen's wardrobe,
31:04the jewel room,
31:06the treasury,
31:06the apothetory,
31:07all of them.
31:08From today on,
31:10no door in the palace
31:11will stand in your way.
31:14I could not help laughing.
31:15If all you needed
31:16was a vase beside your throne,
31:17you should never have been
31:18kind to me in the beginning.
31:20Yes.
31:21I had loved him once.
31:22During my first year
31:23in the palace,
31:25Leon had not always
31:26been cold.
31:26He taught me
31:27my first court dance.
31:29He taught me
31:30my first court dance.
31:33When noble ladies
31:35mocked my accent,
31:36he took my hand
31:37and walked me
31:38across the entire ballroom.
31:40She is my queen.
31:42In that moment,
31:43I truly believed
31:44I had been chosen.
31:49Leon began to say
31:50I did not understand
31:51the rules,
31:52that I was too sensitive,
31:54too petty,
31:55too embarrassing.
31:56That Lydia
31:57was only helping him.
31:58His tenderness
31:59was like winter fog
32:00on a window.
32:01The moment I touched it,
32:03it disappeared.
32:04I looked at Leon
32:05and said softly,
32:06I don't need
32:07your compensation.
32:09I only need
32:10this marriage to end.
32:12Leon looked
32:12as if he had been struck.
32:14He stumbled
32:15one step forward
32:15and reached for me.
32:17I avoided him.
32:18His hand froze
32:19in the air.
32:23Aelia,
32:24even a prisoner
32:24dragged before a court
32:25gets to defend himself once.
32:27His voice was almost pleading.
32:29You can't deny me
32:30even one chance
32:31to explain.
32:33I gave you many chances.
32:35I said calmly.
32:37Every time I waited
32:38outside your study.
32:40Every time I went
32:41to the household office
32:42to beg for a key.
32:45Every time I told you
32:46stake for me when key.
32:50Every time I told you
32:51Lydia was delaying me
32:53on purpose.
32:54Every time you said
32:56listen to Lydia.
32:58Those were chances.
33:01You were the one
33:02who threw them all away.
33:03Leon had nothing
33:04left to say.
33:05I knew how stubborn
33:06he was.
33:07I also knew
33:08dissolving our marriage
33:09would not be easy.
33:10But I did not expect
33:12him to arrive
33:12at the armory camp
33:13the next morning
33:14with a train of carriages.
33:15They were loaded
33:17with silk,
33:18medicine,
33:19gold coffers,
33:20and food.
33:24The northern armory
33:25is always short
33:26on funds.
33:27I've already ordered
33:28the treasurer
33:29to allocate money
33:30to you.
33:33Leon stood in the snow
33:35when he saw me.
33:36There was even
33:37a careful smile
33:38on his face.
33:41These medicines
33:42and iron supplies
33:42are for the camp
33:43as well.
33:43Then he took
33:44a small box
33:45from a servant.
33:47These are
33:47candied figs.
33:49I remember you
33:50used to ask for them
33:50late at night.
33:51Eat while they're
33:52still warm.
33:53I did not reach
33:54for them.
33:54You don't like them?
33:56The hope in Leon's
33:57eyes stiffened
33:57little by little.
33:59I don't like
34:00candied figs.
34:01Lydia does.
34:02I said lightly.
34:03Leon froze.
34:05I looked at the box
34:06and remembered
34:06long ago
34:07for a period of time.
34:09He often asked me
34:10to have the kitchens
34:11make candied figs
34:12late at night.
34:13I thought
34:13he liked sweets
34:14while working late.
34:15Only later did I
34:16learn they were
34:17for Lydia.
34:18Once I saw her
34:19sitting at the
34:20small table
34:20in the king's
34:21study with my
34:22own eyes.
34:24Your majesty,
34:25please have the
34:26kitchens make
34:27another serving
34:27next time.
34:29At Leon tried
34:29them and thinks
34:30they're good too.
34:34That day I argued
34:35with Leon.
34:38It's just a bit of food
34:40from the kitchen.
34:41You are queen
34:42and Lydia runs
34:43the palace household
34:44for me.
34:44What's wrong
34:45with rewarding her?
34:45Stop acting
34:46so small-minded.
34:48Now,
34:48thinking back,
34:49I found myself
34:50almost laughable,
34:51so I had once
34:52been that devoted.
34:54I'm sorry.
34:55I remembered
34:56wrong.
34:57Leon gave a
34:57difficult smile.
35:00Then what do you
35:01like?
35:02I'll wish to
35:03hurry it.
35:03I'll have someone
35:03prepare it.
35:04I lowered my
35:05head and
35:06continued inspecting
35:07a broken sword.
35:08No need.
35:10But Leon did
35:11not give up
35:12over the next
35:12few days.
35:13He kept
35:14sending gifts.
35:15Sometimes it
35:16was a sapphire
35:16necklace.
35:17Sometimes a
35:18gold-threaded
35:19shawl.
35:20Sometimes white
35:21roses from the
35:21royal greenhouse
35:22once.
35:23He even sent
35:24a pair of
35:25ivory gloves
35:25set with
35:26tiny pearls.
35:27I looked at
35:28those things
35:28and became
35:29genuinely curious.
35:30How did a
35:31man who
35:31listened this
35:32badly manage
35:33to rule a
35:33country?
35:34When the
35:34armory finished
35:35repairing a
35:36batch of
35:36border long
35:37swords,
35:38Leon came
35:38again.
35:39This time
35:40he carried
35:40a delicate
35:41wooden box.
35:44I did
35:45not let
35:45him open
35:46it.
35:47The
35:47palace
35:48keys?
35:49His eyes
35:50lit up.
35:51How did
35:52you know?
35:52I looked
35:53at him
35:53and gave
35:53a small
35:54smile.
35:55Because
35:55you finally
35:56remembered
35:56that keys
35:57were what
35:57I lacked
35:58most for
35:58the past
35:58three years.
35:59A hint
36:00of joy
36:00appeared on
36:01his face,
36:01as if he
36:02thought he
36:03had finally
36:03done something
36:04right,
36:04he opened
36:05the box.
36:06Inside lay
36:06a ring of
36:07golden keys,
36:08the wardrobe,
36:09the jewel room,
36:10the apothecary,
36:11the carriage house,
36:12the treasury,
36:13the inner chamber,
36:14each key bore the
36:15queen's crest.
36:18from today
36:19on,
36:20you can open
36:21every room
36:22in the palace.
36:24A'lelia,
36:26I will make
36:27up for
36:27everything I
36:28owe you.
36:31I looked
36:31at those
36:32keys,
36:32so late
36:33in coming,
36:34and suddenly
36:34felt exhausted.
36:36Leon,
36:36you still
36:36don't understand.
36:38Leon,
36:38you still
36:38don't understand.
36:40I wanted
36:41keys before
36:41because I
36:42was still
36:42trying to
36:43survive inside
36:43that palace.
36:46I don't
36:46need them
36:47now.
36:48I never
36:48wanted the
36:49keys to
36:49every door
36:50in the palace.
36:51I never
36:52want to go
36:52back to
36:53that palace
36:53at all.
36:55The color
36:56drained from
36:56Leon's face.
36:58I continued.
36:59The sapphire
37:00you sent
37:01is what
37:01Lydia likes.
37:02The gold-threaded
37:03shoal is
37:03something she
37:04wears often.
37:06White roses
37:07sit in her
37:08room all year.
37:09The ivory
37:10gloves are what
37:10she wears
37:11before every
37:11winter hunt.
37:13See?
37:14You remember
37:15another woman's
37:16taste so
37:16clearly.
37:17So why not
37:18dissolve this
37:19marriage smoothly
37:20and marry her?
37:21Leon answered
37:22almost without
37:22thinking,
37:23thinking.
37:24She cannot
37:24be queen.
37:26Her birth
37:26is not suitable.
37:28She only likes
37:28power and the
37:29things inside
37:30the palace.
37:30I suddenly
37:31understood.
37:32He saw
37:33Lydia clearly.
37:34He had
37:34simply never
37:35considered her
37:36someone who
37:36could stand
37:37beside her.
37:37As for me,
37:38I had the
37:39late king's
37:40command and
37:40the title
37:41of the
37:41savior's
37:42daughter.
37:42My birth
37:42was low,
37:43but I had
37:44no noble
37:45family that
37:45could threaten
37:46me.
37:46I was suited
37:47to be a queen
37:47placed beside
37:48his throne.
37:49Perhaps there
37:50was love in
37:50his attachment
37:51to me.
37:52But more
37:53than that,
37:53he could not
37:54accept that
37:54I had chosen
37:55to leave him.
37:58I looked
37:58straight at
37:59Leon.
37:59So you think
38:00I walked away
38:01with nothing
38:01because I
38:02loved you?
38:03Because you
38:03broke my
38:04heart because
38:05I wanted you
38:05to regret it?
38:06Leon looked
38:07away.
38:08I said
38:08softly,
38:10you're
38:11wrong.
38:13I married
38:13you because
38:14my father
38:14needed the
38:15physicians and
38:16medicine the
38:16late king
38:17promised him.
38:18I stayed in
38:19the palace
38:19because he
38:20was still
38:20alive.
38:24Now he
38:25is dead.
38:25I don't need
38:26your money.
38:27I don't need
38:27your keys.
38:28I don't need
38:29your love.
38:32And I don't
38:33need you,
38:34Leon.
38:37Leon.
38:37The ruling
38:38from the
38:38archbishop's
38:39court came
38:40sooner than
38:40I expected.
38:41Perhaps
38:42because Leon
38:42did not
38:43interfere again.
38:44Perhaps
38:45because too
38:45many people
38:46in the
38:46capital
38:46already knew
38:47that before
38:48the queen's
38:48father died.
38:49The
38:50apothecary
38:50key had
38:51been delayed
38:51again and
38:52again.
38:53The marriage
38:54is dissolved
38:54on the grounds
38:55that it was
38:56arranged by
38:56the late
38:57king's
38:57command,
38:58that there
38:58are no
38:59children,
38:59and that the
39:00relationship
39:01has broken
39:01beyond
39:02repair.
39:05Leon did
39:05not appear.
39:06Royal judges
39:07handled everything
39:08on his behalf,
39:09to my surprise.
39:10He did not
39:11leave me with
39:11nothing as he
39:12had once
39:12threatened to
39:13do.
39:13He sent all
39:14the reward
39:14money my
39:15father should
39:15have received
39:16to the moon.
39:17He also gave
39:18me an estate
39:18near the border,
39:19a box of jewels,
39:21and everything
39:21that had once
39:22belonged to me
39:23in the queen's
39:23chamber.
39:24I returned
39:25to the palace
39:25once.
39:26Nothing in
39:26that chamber
39:27had been moved.
39:28The wardrobe
39:28stood open.
39:29The jewel
39:30room stood
39:30open.
39:31Even the
39:32inner room
39:33I could not
39:33enter for
39:33three years
39:34had its
39:34door wide
39:35open.
39:36On the
39:36table lay
39:37that ring
39:37of golden
39:37keys.
39:38Each one
39:39had been
39:39polished
39:40until it
39:40shone,
39:41but I
39:41no longer
39:42wanted
39:42them.
39:44I spent
39:45two days
39:45handing the
39:46gowns,
39:47jewelry,
39:47and properties
39:48in the
39:49capital over
39:49to the
39:49merchants'
39:50guild for
39:50auction.
39:51Part of
39:52the money
39:52went to
39:52repairing
39:53the
39:53northern
39:53armory
39:53camp,
39:54part went
39:54to the
39:55families
39:55of fallen
39:56border
39:56soldiers.
39:57The
39:57rest,
39:58I used
39:59to build
39:59a small
39:59workshop in
40:00my father's
40:01name.
40:01One that
40:02would take
40:02in girls
40:02with nowhere
40:03else to
40:03go and
40:04teach them
40:04a trade.
40:05On the
40:06third evening,
40:06a royal
40:07servant came
40:08to the
40:08armory
40:09camp.
40:09He carried
40:10a small
40:10gold chest
40:11and looked
40:11uncomfortable.
40:13Miss
40:13Aaliyah,
40:15His Majesty
40:15said the
40:16earlier
40:16compensation
40:17was not
40:17enough.
40:19These are
40:20new deeds
40:21and letters
40:21of credit.
40:22I looked
40:23at the
40:23black carriage
40:23parked in
40:24the distance.
40:25I took
40:25the chest
40:26and walked
40:26over.
40:27After a
40:28while,
40:28the carriage
40:29window
40:29lowered.
40:30Leon sat
40:31inside.
40:32He had
40:33lost a
40:33great deal
40:33of weight.
40:34Dark stubble
40:35shadowed his
40:36jaw, and
40:37his eyes
40:37were full
40:37of exhaustion.
40:41I handed
40:42the chest
40:42back through
40:42the window.
40:45Leon,
40:47I am grateful
40:48you didn't truly
40:48send me away
40:49empty-handed.
40:50What you have
40:51already given
40:52me is enough.
40:55but I will
40:56still sell
40:56the gowns,
40:57the jewels,
40:59and the
41:00houses.
41:01I have
41:02enough money.
41:04I simply
41:05don't want to
41:06keep anything
41:06from the
41:07palace.
41:08Leon's voice
41:08was hoarse.
41:10Aaliyah,
41:12I only want
41:13to make it
41:13up to you.
41:16You've already
41:17made up enough.
41:23We owe
41:24each other
41:25nothing now.
41:27Leon suddenly
41:28grew agitated.
41:29How can we
41:30owe each other
41:31nothing?
41:33Your father,
41:34and the way
41:35I treated you
41:35before.
41:37I wronged you.
41:39I was silent
41:39for a moment.
41:43I did hate
41:44you.
41:45My father
41:46saved the
41:47late king,
41:48but the reward
41:49he earned
41:49was locked
41:49inside the
41:50palace.
41:51When he
41:51needed those
41:52things to
41:52live,
41:52I couldn't
41:53even get
41:53a key.
41:56There was
41:56a time when
41:57I wanted
41:57to burn
41:57that palace
41:58down.
41:59Leon's
41:59face turned
42:00pale.
42:01I went
42:02on.
42:03But I
42:03also have
42:04to admit,
42:06Leon,
42:06that my
42:07father survived
42:07those three
42:08years because
42:09of the royal
42:09physician,
42:10he was in
42:10the apothetry.
42:11That was
42:12what the
42:12old king
42:13promised him.
42:16And it
42:17was something
42:17you never
42:17completely
42:18owned.
42:21He never
42:22completely
42:22took away.
42:23Before my
42:24father died,
42:25he held my
42:25hand with
42:26the little
42:26strength he
42:27had left.
42:31Alia,
42:33don't spend
42:33your whole
42:34life inside
42:35hatred.
42:37My greatest
42:38regret is not
42:39that I never
42:39lived in a
42:40grand house.
42:41It's that I
42:42never got to
42:43see you
42:43return to
42:44the forge.
42:46My daughter
42:47could have
42:48made the
42:48finest keys.
42:51Win the
42:51finest keys.
42:54At that
42:55moment, the
42:56person I hated
42:56most became
42:57myself.
42:58I hated
42:58myself for
42:59being useless.
43:00I hated that
43:01even though I
43:02knew the
43:02palace was
43:03not my
43:03home.
43:03home.
43:04I still
43:04endured three
43:05years there
43:05for my
43:06father, and
43:07I hated
43:07that in
43:07the end.
43:08I still
43:08failed to
43:09save him.
43:10So now
43:11everything is
43:12only returning
43:12to where it
43:13should be.
43:14And it was
43:15something you
43:15never completely
43:16owned.
43:19You never
43:20completely took
43:20away.
43:21Something
43:22seemed to
43:22shatter in
43:23Leon's eyes.
43:27We sat
43:28in silence
43:29for a long
43:29time, in
43:30the end.
43:31There was no
43:31unnecessary
43:32farewell.
43:33When the
43:33carriage left,
43:34I did not
43:35look back.
43:36Over the
43:37next few
43:37years, I
43:38poured almost
43:39all my time
43:40into the
43:40armory camp.
43:41I repaired
43:42gates, adjusted
43:43crossbows,
43:45redesigned
43:45horseshoes for
43:46the northern
43:46cavalry.
43:48Eventually, even
43:49the minister of
43:50war in the
43:50capital heard
43:51that there
43:51was a female
43:52armorer.
43:53In the
43:53north, who
43:54could make
43:54ruined plates
43:55of armor look
43:55new again.
43:56When Madam
43:57Martha grew
43:58older, she
43:59often sat by
44:00the forge and
44:00watched me train
44:01apprentices.
44:03Choose your
44:04students carefully.
44:05I'm too old to
44:07rescue you first
44:08and then rescue
44:09your useless
44:09little apprentices
44:10too.
44:11My apprentices
44:13and I all
44:13laughed.
44:15That winter, I
44:17suddenly received
44:18news.
44:18Leon had been
44:19injured.
44:20A fire had
44:20broken out in
44:21the old queen's
44:22chamber.
44:22and he had
44:23rushed in to
44:24save someone.
44:27Half his face
44:28had been burned.
44:29The messenger
44:30said Lydia had
44:31set the fire.
44:33After she was
44:34driven from the
44:35palace, she never
44:35accepted it.
44:36She believed his
44:37majesty refused to
44:39marry her because
44:39you were still alive
44:41and because he had
44:42kept the queen's
44:43chamber untouched.
44:46She used an old
44:47key she had
44:47secretly copied,
44:49slipped into
44:49Whitestone Palace
44:50and tried to
44:51burn the chamber
44:51down.
44:52Maybe she wanted
44:53to kill Leon.
44:54Maybe she wanted
44:55to kill me.
44:56The woman she
44:57believed would
44:57one day return.
44:59After hesitating
45:00for a long time,
45:01I went to see him
45:02once, my heart
45:03had not softened.
45:04Something simply
45:05needed a real
45:06ending.
45:10Leon lay in the
45:11palace infirmary.
45:13Half of his face
45:13was wrapped in
45:14white bandages.
45:15The physicians
45:16whispered that the
45:17scar would likely
45:18be deep.
45:19When he saw me,
45:20he gave a smile
45:21uglier than crying.
45:23You came.
45:24I nodded politely
45:25as if visiting an
45:26old acquaintance.
45:27I heard you were
45:28hurt.
45:29He said,
45:31Lydia will stand
45:32trial.
45:33Falsifying the
45:33key ledger,
45:34holding back the
45:35apothetory key,
45:37hiding the queen's
45:37travel permits and
45:39arson.
45:40She will pay for
45:41all of it.
45:42I did not ask
45:43further.
45:43None of those
45:44things had
45:44anything to do
45:45with me now.
45:46I only asked
45:47a few polite
45:48questions about
45:49his injuries.
45:54Will the burn
45:55affect your
45:56sight?
46:01The physicians
46:02say one eye
46:03may blur in
46:03winter.
46:04It doesn't
46:04matter.
46:06Then follow
46:07their instructions.
46:09When the next
46:09group of nobles
46:10came in to visit,
46:11I took the chance
46:12to leave at the
46:13door, Leon
46:15suddenly called
46:15my name.
46:21Aaliyah.
46:22I stopped but
46:23did not turn
46:23around.
46:24His voice was
46:25low.
46:28That chamber is
46:29gone.
46:32Everything from
46:33before is gone
46:34too.
46:35I said calmly,
46:36that's all right.
46:39I never wanted
46:40any of it.
46:41I said calmly.
46:44Behind me,
46:45there was a
46:46long silence.
46:47I opened the
46:48door and walked
46:48out of the
46:49infirmary.
46:50The sunlight
46:50outside was
46:51bright, like
46:52my new life.
47:02Lydia's trial
47:03was held in the
47:03old judgment
47:04hall of
47:04White Stone
47:05Palace.
47:06She no longer
47:07wore pale blue
47:07silk or white
47:08fox fur.
47:09Her wrists
47:10were bound.
47:11Her hair was
47:12loose, and
47:13smoke stains
47:14still clung to
47:14the hem of
47:15her gown.
47:16Lydia, former
47:17chief court
47:17lady.
47:18You are
47:19accused of
47:19falsifying
47:20household
47:20ledgers,
47:21withholding
47:21royal keys,
47:22concealing
47:23travel permits,
47:24delaying royal
47:24medicine, and
47:25setting fire to
47:26the queen's
47:27chamber.
47:27How do you
47:28answer?
47:29Lydia lifted
47:30her head and
47:31laughed.
47:33Queen's chamber?
47:35She was never
47:36worthy of that
47:36chamber.
47:37The nobles
47:37whispered out.
47:38Leon sat
47:39behind the
47:39carved screen,
47:40half his face
47:41hidden beneath
47:42bandages.
47:43He did not
47:44speak.
47:46The recovered
47:47ledger shows
47:48that the
47:48apothery key
47:49was requested
47:50five times on
47:52the night
47:52Master Thomas
47:53died.
47:54Each request
47:55was delayed
47:56under your
47:57seal.
47:58I followed
47:59palace,
48:00I followed
48:01palace rules.
48:03The travel
48:03permit was
48:04also hidden
48:05under your
48:06seal.
48:07Because she
48:08always wanted
48:09to run back
48:09to that filthy
48:11forge.
48:13Not the
48:14furls.
48:16Leon closed
48:17his eyes.
48:18Lydia suddenly
48:19turned toward
48:19the screen
48:20as if she
48:20could see
48:21him.
48:21Leon,
48:22if Alalia
48:23had not
48:23appeared,
48:24I would
48:24have been
48:25queen long
48:25ago!
48:27You kept
48:28that chamber
48:29untouched
48:29because you
48:30still dreamed
48:30she would
48:31return.
48:32If she
48:32died,
48:34everything
48:34would go
48:35back to
48:35how it
48:36was!
48:38The judgment
48:38hall fell
48:39silent.
48:40Then you
48:41admit you
48:41set the fire
48:42knowing she
48:43might return.
48:44Lydia's face
48:45twisted.
48:46I admit
48:47nothing
48:47except that
48:48she stole
48:48what should
48:49have been
48:49mine!
48:56After the
48:57trial,
48:58Leon dismissed
48:59every guard
48:59and walked
49:00alone to
49:00the ruins
49:01of the
49:01old queen's
49:02chamber.
49:03The corridor
49:03still smelled
49:04of smoke.
49:05The portraits
49:06of past queens
49:07remained on
49:07the walls,
49:08but the place
49:09where Alia's
49:09portrait had
49:10once hung
49:10was black
49:11and empty.
49:13Your
49:13majesty,
49:14the physician
49:15said you
49:15should not
49:16be near
49:16Ash.
49:20Leave.
49:22The guard
49:22bowed and
49:23retreated.
49:24Leon stepped
49:25over burned
49:25silk,
49:26broken beams
49:27and melted
49:28glass.
49:28The wardrobe
49:29that he had
49:30finally opened
49:30for Alia was
49:31gone.
49:32The jewel
49:33room was
49:33gone,
49:34the table
49:34where he
49:35had placed
49:35the polished
49:36golden.
49:37Keys was
49:37split in
49:38half,
49:38a half-melted
49:39key lay
49:40in the ashes.
49:41Leon picked
49:42it up with
49:42his bandaged
49:43hand.
49:47Your
49:47majesty,
49:48your wound
49:49will reopen.
49:50It should.
49:51He looked
49:51at the
49:52twisted key
49:52and suddenly
49:53remembered
49:53Alia standing
49:54before him
49:55with a
49:55small trunk
49:56at her feet.
50:00Alia's
50:01voice seemed
50:01to return
50:02from the
50:02fire.
50:03I don't
50:04need them
50:04now.
50:06Leon pressed
50:07the key
50:07against his
50:08palm.
50:09Four years,
50:10he had
50:10believed that
50:11if he kept
50:11the chamber
50:12kept the
50:13gowns,
50:13kept the
50:14keys,
50:15he could
50:15keep the
50:16possibility
50:16of her
50:17return.
50:19But the
50:19chamber had
50:20burned,
50:20the portrait
50:21had burned,
50:22even the
50:22keys had
50:23lost their
50:23shape.
50:24Only then
50:25did Leon
50:26understand that
50:26Alia had not
50:27disappeared from
50:28his life because
50:29a door had
50:29closed.
50:30She had
50:31left because
50:31he had never
50:32given her one
50:33worth opening.
50:36The palace
50:37corridor looked
50:37as brilliant
50:38as it had
50:38before,
50:39with portraits
50:40of past
50:41queens hanging
50:41along the
50:42walls.
50:42There had
50:43once been a
50:43portrait of
50:44me there
50:44too after
50:45the dissolution.
50:46Leon never
50:47ordered it
50:48removed.
50:48Now that
50:49portrait had
50:50burned with
50:50the chamber.
50:51Good.
50:52Some things
50:53should never
50:53have been
50:53kept later.
50:54I heard that
50:55Lydia cursed
50:56my name
50:56throughout her
50:57trial.
50:58She said
50:59that if it
50:59had not been
51:00for me,
51:00she would
51:01have been
51:01queen long
51:02ago.
51:02She said
51:03that if
51:03it had
51:04not been
51:04for me,
51:06she said
51:06that if
51:07I died,
51:08everything
51:08would go
51:08back to
51:09how it
51:09was.
51:10I only
51:10found it
51:11ridiculous.
51:11In the
51:12end,
51:12they really
51:13were a
51:14perfect match.
51:15One
51:15believed
51:16that as
51:16long as
51:16he kept
51:17the old
51:17chamber,
51:18I would
51:18one day
51:19return.
51:19The other
51:20believed
51:20that as
51:21long as
51:21I
51:21disappeared,
51:22she would
51:23be able
51:23to walk
51:23through
51:24that
51:24door.
51:24They
51:25were
51:25both
51:25stubbornly
51:26guarding
51:26things that
51:27did not
51:27belong to
51:27them.
51:28Both of
51:29them were
51:29trapped
51:29in the
51:30past,
51:30refusing
51:32I had
51:32not
51:33seen
51:33it
51:33sooner.
51:34One
51:34regret
51:34in a
51:35lifetime
51:35was
51:35enough.
51:36A
51:37young
51:37girl
51:38at
51:38the
51:38work
51:38table
51:38glanced
51:39at
51:39the
51:39messenger's
51:40letter
51:40in my
51:40hand.
51:41Teacher,
51:42is that
51:43news from
51:43the
51:43palace?
51:44I
51:45folded
51:45the
51:46letter
51:46and
51:46pushed
51:46it
51:46into
51:47the
51:47fire.
51:49No,
51:51it
51:51is only
51:52ash.
51:53Madame
51:53Martha
51:53snorted
51:54from the
51:54corner.
51:55Good
51:55answer.
51:56Now
51:57teach
51:57that
51:57girl
51:58how
51:58to
51:58file
51:59a
51:59clean
51:59edge
51:59before
52:00she
52:00ruins
52:01my
52:01tools.
52:01After
52:02that,
52:03I
52:03never
52:03went
52:03back
52:04to
52:04the
52:04palace.
52:05I
52:05never
52:05followed
52:06any
52:06news
52:06of
52:06Leon
52:06again.
52:08Several
52:09months
52:09after
52:10Lydia's
52:10sentence,
52:11the
52:11Minister
52:12of
52:12War
52:12placed
52:12a
52:13northern
52:13armory
52:13report
52:14before
52:14Leon.
52:15Your
52:15Majesty,
52:16the
52:17Border
52:17Cavalry
52:17requests
52:18more
52:18horseshoes
52:19from
52:19Miss
52:19Alia's
52:19workshop,
52:20but
52:21their
52:21design
52:21has
52:21reduced
52:22winter
52:22injuries
52:22by
52:23nearly
52:23half.
52:24Leon's
52:25fingers
52:25paused
52:26on the
52:26seal.
52:27The
52:27capital
52:28armory
52:28could
52:28use
52:28her
52:29skill.
52:31for a
52:32royal
52:32commission.
52:32For
52:33a
52:33moment,
52:33the
52:33chamber
52:34was
52:34silent.
52:35Then
52:35Leon
52:35said
52:36quietly,
52:37Send
52:37the
52:37invitation.
52:38He
52:38told
52:38himself
52:39it
52:39was
52:39for
52:39the
52:39kingdom.
52:40He
52:41did
52:41not
52:41tell
52:41the
52:41minister
52:42that
52:42he
52:42had
52:42read
52:42every
52:43northern
52:43report.
52:44With
52:44her
52:44name
52:44on
52:45it,
52:45he
52:45did
52:46not
52:46say
52:46that
52:46each
52:46mention
52:47of
52:47Aaliyah's
52:47work hurt
52:48worse than
52:48a scar
52:49across
52:49his
52:49face.
52:50Days
52:51later,
52:51a
52:52royal
52:52messenger
52:52arrived
52:53at
52:53Thomas'
52:53workshop.
52:55Miss
52:55Aaliyah,
52:56his
52:56majesty
52:57invites
52:57you
52:57to
52:57the
52:57capital
52:58to
52:58oversee
52:58a
52:58new
52:59lock
52:59system
52:59for
52:59Whitestone
53:00Palace.
53:01I
53:02did
53:02not
53:02stop
53:02filing
53:03the
53:03iron
53:03plate
53:03in
53:04my
53:04hand.
53:05Tell
53:05the
53:05ministry
53:06to
53:06send
53:06the
53:06measurements.
53:07I
53:08will
53:08design
53:08what
53:09the
53:09palace
53:09needs
53:09from
53:09here.
53:10His
53:10majesty
53:11hoped
53:11you
53:11would
53:11come
53:11in
53:12person.
53:12I
53:13finally
53:13looked
53:13up.
53:14I
53:15am
53:15an
53:15armater,
53:16not
53:16a
53:16memory
53:17he
53:17can
53:17summon.
53:18That
53:18evening
53:18I
53:19wrote
53:19a
53:19formal
53:19reply.
53:22Thomas's
53:22workshop
53:23accepts
53:23commissions
53:24for
53:24tools,
53:25hinges,
53:26armor
53:26plates,
53:27locks,
53:28and
53:28keys.
53:29It
53:29does
53:29not
53:30accept
53:30invitations
53:31to
53:31reopen
53:32closed
53:32doors.
53:33When
53:33Leon
53:33received
53:34the
53:34letter,
53:35he
53:35read
53:35the
53:35last
53:36line
53:36three
53:36times,
53:37then
53:37he
53:37folded
53:37it
53:37carefully
53:38and
53:38placed
53:38it
53:38beside
53:39the
53:39ruined
53:39golden
53:40key
53:40he
53:40still
53:40kept
53:41in
53:41his
53:41desk.
53:43The
53:44winters
53:44in the
53:44north
53:45were
53:45long,
53:45but
53:46the
53:46forge
53:46fire
53:47never
53:47went
53:48one of
53:48the
53:49new
53:49girls
53:49held
53:49up
53:49a
53:49broken
53:50lock
53:50and
53:50asked
53:51softly,
53:51Teacher,
53:52what should
53:53I do
53:53if this
53:54won't
53:54open?
53:55I
53:55glanced
53:55at it
53:56and pushed
53:56a bar
53:57of iron
53:57into
53:57the
53:57fire.
53:59If
54:00it
54:00won't
54:00open,
54:00replace
54:01it.
54:02Same
54:02with
54:03doors,
54:04same
54:04with
54:04people.
54:05The
54:05fire
54:06rose.
54:06The
54:07red
54:07hot
54:07iron
54:07slowly
54:08took
54:08shape
54:08beneath
54:09the
54:09hammer.
54:10I
54:10suddenly
54:10thought
54:11of
54:11the
54:11night.
54:11I
54:12left
54:12the
54:12palace
54:13three
54:13years
54:13ago.
54:14Back
54:14then,
54:15I
54:15thought
54:16I
54:16had
54:16lost
54:16everything.
54:17Only
54:17now
54:18did
54:18I
54:18understand.
54:19I
54:19had
54:19simply
54:20carried
54:20myself
54:20out
54:21of
54:21a
54:21palace
54:21where
54:22I
54:22had
54:23never
54:23been
54:23given
54:23a
54:23key.
54:25From
54:26then
54:26on,
54:26my
54:27life
54:27would
54:27only
54:27move
54:28forward.
54:28I
54:29would
54:29never
54:29look
54:29back.
54:31The
54:31new
54:31girl
54:32stared
54:32at
54:32the
54:32broken
54:33lock
54:33in
54:33her
54:33palm,
54:34then
54:34looked
54:34at
54:35the
54:35iron
54:35glowing
54:35in
54:36the
54:36furnace.
54:37Teacher,
54:38can
54:39I
54:39make
54:39my
54:39own
54:40key?
54:40I
54:41handed
54:41her
54:41the
54:41smaller
54:42hammer
54:42my
54:42father
54:42once
54:43made
54:43for
54:43me.
54:45You
54:45can
54:46make
54:46a
54:46key.
54:46You
54:47can
54:47make
54:47a
54:47door.
54:48You
54:48can
54:49even
54:49decide
54:49there
54:49should
54:49be
54:49no
54:50door
54:50there
54:50at
54:50all.
54:51Less
54:51talking.
54:52More
54:53hammering.
54:54The
54:54apprentices
54:54burst
54:55into
54:55laughter.
54:56I
54:56laughed
54:56with
54:57them.
54:57Outside,
54:58the
54:59northern
54:59snow
54:59covered
55:00the
55:00road
55:00to
55:00the
55:00Capitol.
55:01Inside,
55:02the
55:02forge
55:02burned
55:03brighter
55:03than
55:03any
55:04palace
55:04chandelier
55:04I
55:05had
55:05ever
55:05seen.
55:06I
55:06raised
55:06the
55:06hammer.
55:07The
55:07first
55:08strike
55:08rang
55:08clear.
55:09Then
55:09the
55:09second
55:10then
55:11the
55:11third.
55:11A
55:11new
55:12shape
55:12began
55:12to
55:12form
55:13beneath
55:13my
55:13hands.
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